8:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Morning Plenary

Morning Keynote: Lee Maracle

Lee Maracle is a Canadian poet and award-winning Sto:lo author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including Ravensong, Sundogs, I Am Woman and more. She is an instructor at the University of Toronto, where she is also the Traditional Cultural Director for the Indigenous Theatre School.

Keynote presentation sponsored by: Aboriginal Housing Management Association  
Category
Open to All
When
12/3/2020 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Breakout Sessions 1

T01: CEO Dialogue: Collaborations in Inclusive Housing

Join Ross Chilton, CEO of CLBC and Margaret Pfoh, CEO of AHMA, for a dialogue on developing inclusive housing for urban Indigenous people and people with intellectual disabilities. The dialogue will explore how the agencies can collaborate more closely as the Crown agency further develops its inclusive policies and practices throughout its programs and services, and how AHMA is working across sectors to ensure all urban Indigenous people in the province have affordable homes.

Presenters: Jill Atkey, BCNPHA;  Margaret Pfoh, AHMA;  Ross Chilton, Community Living BC
Sponsored by: 
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

T02: Hiring in Housing: A New Normal

From casuals to front-line workers, property and senior management and beyond, qualified and sustainable hiring in the sector is as demanding as it has ever been. In this session, you'll discover what's changed in the world of HR due to the pandemic and how it impacts the sector. A panel of HR specialists and non-profit representatives will share their insights and lessons learned as we explore how to prepare for a new "normal" in a world with(out) COVID-19. No doubt you have faced your own challenges and have your own stories to tell.

Presenter: Marsha Goldford, The Wisdom Group

Sponsored by:
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

T03: Property Losses & Developing a Risk Mitigation Strategy

The social housing sector in BC has seen the frequency and severity of property losses rise over the past eight years. In 2018, Marsh Canada conducted a data analysis of these losses and in 2019 and 2020, along with Aviva Canada, conducted site-specific surveys to better understand what is affecting operators with day-to-day operations to help reduce losses. This session will explore the findings and resources available to help mitigate losses, including Marsh Canada’s 2020/21 Risk Mitigation Strategy and the Property Risk Web Tool.

Presenters: Brandon Spearing, Aviva Canada; Ian Tarris, Marsh Canada 

Sponsored by: 
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

T04: Improving Seniors’ Social Connections During COVID

In the time of COVID, social distancing can quickly become social isolation as our operations move online and social programming is intentionally reduced, resulting in negative health and social outcomes for seniors and other vulnerable adults. In this session housing providers will gain insight into how isolation affects seniors' well-being and quality of life. Experts providing supports to seniors will share practical programming ideas on how to incorporate anti-isolation tactics in their day-to-day operations with the goal of improving tenant outcomes.

Presenter: Susan Moore, Brightside Community Homes Foundation

Sponsored by: 
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

T05: Capital Planning

Feeling in over your head when it comes to capital planning? Need some help? The essential first step in forecasting and financing your building’s life happens with your organization’s capital plan – and we want to help ensure you get it right. Join us for an overview of capital planning to learn all the ways it helps your organization, what steps you need to get started and the resources we have to assist you throughout the process.

Presenter: Brian Jung, BC Non-Profit Housing Association 
Category
Asset Management
When
12/3/2020 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

11:00 AM - 12:45 PM

Afternoon Plenary

TRADESHOW

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Breakout Sessions 2

T06: Indigenous Caucus

The National Housing Strategy, announced in 2017, outlines a distinction-based approach when it comes to Indigenous housing. The strategy covers First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples but leaves 85% of the Indigenous population – the urban, self-identified and disenfranchised – out of government responsibilities when it comes to Indigenous housing. In BC, AHMA and other partners have been working on a more inclusive Indigenous housing strategy that takes a provincial, urban and rural approach. Join the Caucus to learn about the outcome of discussions of this strategy with the federal government. 

Sponsored by: 
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

T07: Building Your Financial Strategy During COVID-19

The current public health crisis has disrupted many non-profits’ operations and funding sources, with the full effects still unknown. Organizations face immediate budget impacts and potential threats to their sustainability. In this session, we will help non-profit leaders visualize elements of a financial strategy to proactively address the financial fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Participants will leave with an understanding of key components of a financial strategy and major questions to frame financial discussions within their organizations.

Presenters: Scott Schaffer, Public Interest Management Group; Michael Ames, Encasa

Sponsored by: 
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

T08: Digital Health: Treatment is Just a Click Away

While digital health care has been available in Canada for several years, the pandemic has accelerated the awareness and adoption of these services. This session explores how digital health services like virtual doctors’ visits, internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and online pharmacies can save time and travel in our busy lives, keep us safe from the spread of disease, and help prevent burnout and fatigue within your organization. Learn how you can improve your well-being through these convenient services – right from the comfort of your home.

Sponsored by:
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

T09: Approaches to Tenant Selection in Non-Profit Housing

Non-profit housing providers across BC use different mechanisms to select tenants for their buildings. For instance, some use the provincial Housing Registry while others prefer to keep their own lists for the prioritization of vacant units. This panel will examine various approaches of tenant selection within the sector, discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent with each method, as well as provide an opportunity to better understand emerging best practices.
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

T10: Keeping Your Buildings Running Smooth and Efficient

Well maintained and operated buildings make for happy managers and tenants. We’ve walked more than 1,000 buildings and found problems from mini to mega, humorous to horrifying. Come and learn some tips and tricks to keeping your existing equipment ticking, not sticking. We’ll discuss strategies that dovetail your preventative maintenance with energy efficiency and GHG reductions, while extending the life of building components. From sludgy boiler water to forgotten air filters, small actions that avoid problems and can add up to big results. 

Presenters:  Sofia Marmolejo and Jordan Fisher, FRESCo Building Efficiency

Sponsored by: 
Category
Asset Management
When
12/3/2020 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Breakout Sessions 3

T11: Strengthening Your Board

This session focuses on the world of board governance. It highlights the types of boards, the difference between governance and management, the major responsibilities of a non-profit board and key roles that volunteer board members play. Participants will discuss the tools and techniques for strengthening board relationships internally and externally, and learn about best practices for finding and recruiting mew members, a challenge that faces many boards today.

Presenter: Marsha Goldford, The Wisdom Group
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

T12: Tenant Engagement During Redevelopment

Redevelopment will help us meet our affordable housing goals through the creation of new affordable homes. At the same time, redevelopment creates instability and anxiety for people who are most impacted.  Ensuring residents are well informed, supported and involved in the redevelopment process can help to reduce the negative impacts of moving and uncertainty, and lead to much more successful redevelopment projects. This session will provide successful examples of engagement processes during redevelopment, and will highlight work currently underway to develop better sector supports for redevelopment.

Presenter: Stephanie Allen, BC Housing
Category
Leadership
When
12/3/2020 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

T13: Working in Partnership to Create Inclusive Housing

In 2019, Aaron Pietras was one of 6 individuals and families that moved into their own subsidized rental units in New Westminster, the culmination of efforts by the City of New Westminster, the Community Living Society, BC Housing and numerous others who worked together to leverage resources and manage the project. Hear from leaders from the City of New Westminster, the Community Living Society, Aaron and his family, and others who have become advocates for inclusive housing to hear how the pieces came together to create homes for people in their community.

Presenters: Ross Chilton, Community Living BC;  Jonathan Coté; Mayor of New Westminster

Sponsored by:
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

T14: Supporting Indigenous Families through Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on families. School closures, food insecurity, new sources of conflicts, safety concerns, the digital divide, and other issues have increased the need for family supports to be developed on the fly. Join this facilitated discussion with Indigenous and non-Indigenous housing providers that support Indigenous families to discuss how they responded to the needs of their tenants, and how they are incorporating lessons learned during the pandemic into their planning for the future. 

Sponsored by: 
Category
Operations
When
12/3/2020 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

T15: Design with Risk in Mind

Many new construction and renovation projects proposed by societies end up getting quite far into design before considering energy standards, decarbonization, and future climate risks. This leads to costly redesign and conflict later in the design and construction process. Learn about what factors need to be considered early in design to develop projects that will perform well over their full life cycle.

Presenter: Bill MacKinnon, BC Housing

Sponsored by: 
Category
Asset Management
When
12/3/2020 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

CHF BC Session